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WHAT CHARITY COVERS 

(DAVID GARROW). 

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WHAT CHARITY 
COVERS 


A COMEDY IN ONE ACT 


By 


DAVID GARROW 

Author of “ Patty Packs 
a Bag" 


Copyright, 1911, by Samuel French, Limited 


> .1 






New York 


SAMUEL FRENCH 

Publisher 

8-30 WEST 3<Sth STREET 


London 

SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd 
26 Southampton Street 
STRAND 







©CI.D 23815 


WHAT CHARITY COVERS 

Produced on April 7, 1911, at the Dalston Theatre, London 
with the following cast of characters :— 

Calverley White (a young accountant) 

Fenner (man-servant) 

Lady Mary Thornicro't (middle-aged woman of fashion) 
Lorna Thorxicroft (lur daughter) 

Scene.— Drawing-room of Lady Mary Thornicroft’s flat 
in Victoria Street. 

Time.— Afternoon in July . 


3 



i' ' 


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Any costumes or wigs required in the performance 
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reasonably from Messrs. Chas. H. Fox, Ltd., 27, 
Wellington Street, Strand, London. 


# 


WHAT CHARITY COVERS 

Scene.— Pretty drawing-room in ;\ London flat. En¬ 
trance at back, window up R., sofa below R. En¬ 
trance l.u.e. and writing-table down L. Ottoman c. 

(Lorna discovered, reading. Enter Fenner with 
letter on salver.) 

Fenner. An express letter for her ladyship, 
Miss Lorna. 

Lorna ( takes letter). Express ! Oh well, mamma 
will be in directly. It’s nearly four o’clock. 

{Bell rings.) 

There she is, I dare say. 

[Exit Fenner at back.) 

(Lorna turns over letter with a worried expression.) 

Lady Mary {outside). Express ! Oh, very well. 

{Enter Lady Mary, smiling, fussy, laden with parcels. 
She is beautifully dressed, with a fluffy, juvenile 
effect.) 

Where’s this letter Fenner tells me about ? 

Lorna. Here it is, mamma. I do hope it isn't 
another of those dreadful tradesmen ! 

Lady M. {laughing). Well, even the wicked trades¬ 
men have ceased from troubling for the last week. 

Lorna. Yes. I was quite dreading the effect of 
the usual worry upon you after the fatigues of the 
bazaar. 


6 WHAT CHARITY COVERS. 

Lady M. Oh, don’t talk about the bazaar. I still 
■get up raffles in my sleep. (She has put down the 
parcels and opened letter. Frowns.) Why, what’s 
this? That brute, Sir Bertram Fletcher, says he’s 
not satisfied with the statement of the bazaar ac¬ 
counts'/' And he’s sending an accountant to me for 
more details. (Puts down letter indignantly .) More 
details indeed! I’m sure 1 put down everything I 
could think of. 

Lorna (annoyed). I knew something of that sort 
was coming ! 

Lady M. (quickly). You did ? 

Lorna. Yes. I met Margery Anning this morn¬ 
ing, and she says everybody is awfully disappointed 
not to have cleared off the whole debt. 

Lady M. That’s what always happens. You 
work your head off, make a big success, and then 
people grumble ! 

Lorna. It’s because it was such a success they 
say the four thousand pounds ought to have been 
cleared. 

Lady M. (casting up her eyes). As if four thousand 
pounds was ever cleared by any bazaar. 

Lorna. That’s what I told them. 

Lady M. A bazaar’s a success if there isn’t a loss ! 

Lorna. Yes. 

Lady M. It’s their having Sir Bertram Fletcher 
for president has done this. 

Lorna. An old busybody ! 

Lady M. I’ll never be on a managing committee 
under him again. 

Lorna. I told them that too. But they said 
you’d have to be, because you were the only woman 
in London who could organize these things. 

Lady M. (plaintively) . And these are the thanks I 
get ! An accountant indeed! Well, I won’t see 
him. 

Lorna. Oh, you’d better. You can prove to him 
where they’re wrong. 


WHAT CHARITY COVERS. 


7 


Lady M. No, I can’t. He’ll, confuse me. I have 
my own way of adding up. 

Lorna. Well, it comes out the same. 

Lady M. I don’t know about that. , 

Lorna. What? ,, 4 

Lady M. (quickly). A professional accountant is 
trained to make two and two five. 

Lorna. It makes me:so angry that it’s just be¬ 
cause you’re a woman they think you can’t do 
accounts. ; ( ., • ■ / 

Lady M. Yes. (Plaintively.) And that they 
can frighten me into making mistakes. 

Lorna. I told them for the last three weeks we’d 
been swimming in bazaar accounts : bills in the butter, 
receipts pinned on to the sofa-cushions ; memoranda 
everywhere. 

Lady M. (whimpering). 1 only wish your poor 
father was alive. It. takes a man to deal with these 

i 

sweeps. 

Lorna. Oh no, mamma, I’m sure you can get 
round anybody. (Caresses her.) 

Lady M. (s wiping her eyes). Anybody but an 
accountant. 1 never could understand figures ! , . 

Lorna (kisses her). There now, don’t cry. Show 
me your pretty things. 

Lady M. (opens parcels with one hand, dries her 
eyes with the other , sobs as she talks). There’s a rem¬ 
nant of brocade— (sobs) I bought at the Stores—make 
a lovely panel (sobs) only one pound five. And (opens 
parcel) I’ve bought the gold purse I’ve wanted (sobs) 
so long. 

Lorna (looks at it). Oh, mamma, it must have 
cost an awful lot ! i» 

Lady M. No. It was dirt cheap ; only twenty- 
live guineas. That was sale price, of course. And I 
didn’t forget you. Look at this bangle. 

Lorna (vexed). But I didn’t want a bangle, and it 
doesn’t seem right to buy them when we have so 
many bills to pay. . >\ ■■ 


8 


WHAT CHARITY COVERS. 


Lady M. (sharply). If you want credit, and we 
often do. von must look decent. So I got four new 
hats. 

Lorn a. Four ? 

Lady M. (quickly). And I bought you three lovely, 
blouses, and a dress length of pale blue charmeuse, 
and two dozen pairs of gloves. 

Lorna. I wish you hadn’t. 

Lady M. (whimpering). Don’t be ungrateful too. 

(Bell rings. Lady Mary starts up.) 

Perhaps that’s the man. 

Lorna. Well, what if it ie ? 

Lady M. (agitated). I can’t see him with these red 
eyes, can I ? 

Lorna. Why not ? If he sees you’re worried, it 
will make him nicer. 

Lady M. (shakes her head). You don’t know what 
an accountant is ! 

Lorna. He’s a man, I suppose. 

Lady M. (nervous, suddenly becomes confidential). 
The fact is, I’ve got into rather a muddle with these 
bazaar accounts. 

Lorna (caressingly). Well, he’ll straighten them 
out for you. 

Lady M. (starts. Dubiously.) Ye-e-es. 

(Enter Fenner, with card on salver.) 

Fenner. A gentleman wishes to see you, my lady. 
Lady M. (takes card nervously, gives slight exclama¬ 
tion of satisfaction). Show him in. 

(Exit Fenner.) 

(Goes toward door c., speaks with excitement.) It’s 
that Mr. Calverley White we are always meeting at 
Mrs. Anstruther’s, the grave-looking man who admires 
you so much. 

^Lorna (following her). What, is he the accountant ? 


WHAT CHARITY COVERS. 


9 


Lady M. Y es. You must see him. Show him. 
the receipts—and my accounts. There they are. 
(Points to basketful of papers on table down l.) Make 
the best you cau of them. He won’t press you. 

Lorna ( uneasy and distressed). Oh, mamma, I can’t. 

Lady M. You must! 

{Exit Lady Mary up r. as door opens at back.) 

(Fenner enters.) 

Fenner. Mr. White. 

{Enter Calverley White, solemn, frock-coated young 

man, very nervous.) 

Calverley. How do you do, Miss Thornicroft ? 
It’s a great pleasure to meet you again. 

Lorna [coldly). You have come on bus ness, I 
think. |j 

Calverley. Yes, Sir Bertram Fletcher asked me 
to call, to help Lady Mary to put her bazaar accounts 
into proper form. 

Lorna [coldly). It seems a very unnecessary 
trouble to take. 

Calverley. It was rather a big affair for a lady 
to manage. 

Lorna {impatiently). Oh yes, that’s always the 
cry. It seems to me that ladies .manage money just 
as cleverly as men. 

Calverley. Oh yes. 

Lorna. Especially mamma. Why, she’s been on 
the committee of lots of bazaars. 

Calverley [humbly). I know. 

Lorna. And does all the work, too. 

Calverley. Yes. 

Lorna. None of the others give anything but 
their names. 

Calverley. No. 

Lorna. While she puts her whole soul into it. 

Calverley. Yes. 


10 


WHAT CHARITY COVERS. 


Lorna (worried). Oh, please don't go on saying 
Yes and No like that. What is it you want to see ? 

Calverley (meekly). I want to see Lady Mary. 

Lorna. Mamma! I’m afraid you can’t tc-day. 
She has scarcely got over the fatigue of the bazaar yet ; 
and the thought of being taken to task for not keep¬ 
ing her accounts in better order has naturally upset 

•O . I ! L f .?/ ! . • I 

her a little. 

Calverley (gently). 1 would have done my best 
to help her with them,. (Going up.) I '11 call another 
time. 

Lorna {imperiously). No. We will get it over 
now. (Goes to table down l., points to basket.) Here 
are the bills and memoranda. If you will sit down 
(indicates chair at writing-table) I will hand the 
papers to you one by one, and explain anything I can. 

Calverley (hesitates). 1 would rather wait- 

Lorna. We will do it now, please. 

Calverley (hesitates, suddenly begins to pull off 
gloves, jrowning and hardening himself). If you insist. 

(He sits at table down L.) 

Lorna (takes basket full of papers, sits l.c., a little 
higher than him.) What do you want hrst ? 

Calverley. First we will take the admissions. 

Lorna. Yes. (Searching) . Here they are. Two 
thousand and twenty-five admissions at a guinea. 
That makes- 

Calverley. All ! Forgive me for interrupting 
you, but here we come to the mistake. We have the 
number of admissions direct from the men in charge 
of the turnstiles. They were three thousand four 
hundred and twelve at a guinea. That makes three 
thousand five hundred and eighty-two pounds twelve 
shillings. 

Lorna ( puzzled and worried). Three thousand, do 
ypu say ? Why, that makes a difference of- 

(Blank pause.) 


WHAT CHARITY COVERS. n 

j 

(Hurriedly.) There’s some mistake. 

Calverley (humbly). That’s what I said. That’s 
why I want to see - 

Lorna (interrupts imperiously). Go on to the next 
item, please. 

Carverley (humbly). The sales are given by 
Lady Mary as amounting to one thousand eight 
hundred and forty-six pounds eleven shillings and 
eight pence. 

J.ORNA. Well ? 

Calverley (hurriedly). And the expenses, accordr 
ing to the receipts we have, come to seven hundred 
and sixty-eight pounds ten shillings and fivepence. 

Lorna. Yes. (Finds paper.) I have that. 

Calverley. The cheque handed to The Cripples’ 
Home was for- 

Lorna (triumphantly). Two thousand two hun¬ 
dred and seventy-five pounds. 

Calverley. Yes. So that, according to us, 
there’s a sum of two thousand three hundred and 
eightv-five pounds thirteen shillings and threepence 
unaccounted for. 

Lorna (stupefied). Two thousand! But that’s 
impossible ! ' • 

Calverley (confused). Of course. It’s—forgive 
the expression, the amateur book-keeping. Now 
you understand why I must see Lady Mary. 

Lorna (starts up). Oh, you can’t ! Poor mammal 
No wonder she was worried ! She couldn’t make it 
right, of course. 

Calverley (rises, gentle but determined). Perhaps 
I can help her. :'».»>• i 

(They face each other. Pause.) 

Lorna (fiercely). What do you mean ? . , 

Calverley. I mean that I must see Lady Mary. 

(Lorna almost cowers, keeps her eyes fixed upon him 

as she steals away r. Opens door up R., calls 

hoarsely.) 



12 


WHAT CHARITY COVERS. 


Lorna. Mamma, mamma ! 

Lady M. {outside, brightly). Yes, dear ? 

(Enter Lady Mary, bright, smiling, in elaborate tea- 
gown, sparkling with jewels. She trips in quickly, 
with out-siretched hand.) 

Qh, Mr. White, I’m so glad you’ve come to help me 
with these horrid puzzling figures. 

Calverley (shakes hands, hard, cold, grave). I 
will do what 1 can, Lady Mary. 

(Lorna goes to door up r.) 

Lady M. Don’t go away, Lorna. You may help 
me to remember things. 

Calverley. I think we had better talk this over 
by ourselves, Lady Mary. 

Lady M. (smiles brightly). I don’t. (To Lorna.) 
My dear, you’re to stay. 

(Lorna, frightened, reluctant, sits down R.) 

And now for these accounts. (Sits smiling down l. 
in easy chair.) What shall we begin with ? 

Calverley. Your accounts give 2,025 admissions 
at a guinea. Our information is that there were 
3 , 412 . 

Lady M. Ah yes, because you reckoned all the 
admissions, and I reckoned only those that paid. 
Calverley. I understood that the 3,412 paid. 
Lady M. (laughing). Oh no. Lots of them slipped 
through without paying. 

Calverley (incredulous). What, twelve hundred 
of them ? 

Lady M. Yes. You don’t know these smart 
ladies as well as I do. 

Calverley. No ! 

Lady M. Honest as the day in their ordinary life, 
as soon as it becomes a case of Charity they lose their 
heads. 


WHAT CHART TV COVERS. 


13 


Calverley. Yes. Shall we go on to the next 
point ? 

Lady R. Oh. yes. 

Calverley. The expenses only come to Py 6 8 
10s. 5 d. 

Lady M. Oh, but those are only the expenses I’ve‘ 
got receipts for. There are heaps more besides those. 

Calverley. If you will tell me them I will put 
them down. 

Lady M. ( considering ). There are cab fare's. ‘ Oh, 
the money we spent upon taxis—— 

Calverley. What shall we put those down at ? 

Lady M. Oh. fifty or sixty pounds at least. 

(He writes.) 

At last I found myself spending so much money on 
them that I hired a car, and when I found that was too 
expensive I bought one— (he looks up) second-hand— 
all for the bazaar work. 

Calverley. How much for that ? 

Lady M. I don’t quite remember. A hundred 
and seventy-five pounds, 1 think. 

Calverley (writes). And what else ? 

Lady M. (laughs nervously). I suppose Sir Bertram 
will think I went to work rather extravagantly buying 
the car ? 

Calverley. Well, he may. 

Lady M. But I thought nothing too good for the 
dear cripples. 

Calverley. And what next ? 

Lady M. (impatiently). Oh, how can I remember 
every little thing ? I dropped a half-crown as I took 
the money from one of the stalls, and there was a bad 
sovereign in the takings. 

(He waves his hand impatiently.) 

Well, what more do you want to know ? 

Calverley (looks at his notes, speaks in a low,voice). 

1 want to know where the money has gone to that 


14 


WHAT CHARITY COVERS. 


makes the difference between the expenses and the 
cheque handed to The Cripples’ Home on the one 
hand, and the four thousand six hundred and sixty 
pounds represented by the admission and sale money, 
on the other. 

Lady M. You must deduct the admissions that 
didn’t pay. 

Calverley. I am afraid Sir Bertram won’t. 

Lady M. Sir Bertram’s a beast. 

Calverley. Even if we did deduct them, and 
allow for the taxis and the motor car, there still 
remains nearly a thousand pounds unaccounted for 

Lorn a (below her breath). A thousand pounds ! 

Lady M. (whimpering). I’m sure 1 don’t know 
where it’s gone. I don’t pretend to be very clever at 
accounts, but I did my best. 

Calverley (encouragingly). Of course you did. 
And that is why I came here to help you clear the 
matter up, instead of- 

Lady M. (sits up). Instead of what ? 

Calverley. Letting Sir Bertram communicate 
with you—through his solicitor. 

Lady M. (starts up). His solicitor. He dares send 
you to me with such a message as that ! 

Calverley. It is not a message, Lady Mary. 1 
only said- 

Lady M. (excited). You talk to me about solici¬ 
tors ! Well, I shall get my solicitor to write to him, 
and tell him I mean to start an action for libel at once. 

Calverley. But what is the libel ? 

Lady M. It’s a libel not to be satisfied with my 
accounts. I’m sure I worked myself to death over 
the beastly bazaar, and you should see the letter of 
thanks I got from the Secretary of the Cripples’ Home. 
He didn’t talk of solicitors and accounts. He Was 
simply delighted. I can show you his letter. (Opens 
drawer of desk with excitement.) 

Calverley. But, my dear Lady Mary, that’s not 
the point. 


WHAT CHARITY COVERS. 


15 


Lady M. I don’t care what the point is, 1 won’t 
be insulted. 

Lorn a (who has been looking more and more worried, 
rises and meets Lady Mary c.). But mamma, Mr. 

Calverley is not insulting you. He is only saying- 

Lady M. What do you know about it ? I wish 
you wouldn’t interfere. It’s your sitting there with 
that stony face that puts me out and makes me give 
stupid answers. 

Lorna. Yes, yes. ( Crosses Lady Mary.) I’m 
afraid it is partly my fault, Mr. Calverley. 

(He rises and turns to face her.) 

(In great pain.) I’ve had charge of these accounts 
(points to basket), and I’ve not been careful enough with 
them. Do, do please ask Sir Bertram to be lenient. 

Lady M. (hysterical, R.) Lenient indeed ! As 
if it was his money ! 

Calverley (earnestly). I’m perfectly certain that 
I can get him to drop the matter, provided the balance 
of the money is paid at once to him. 

Lady M. (ironically). To Him—I daresay. 
Calverley. Or to the Secretary of the Cripples’ 
Home. 

Lorna (distressed). What, the two thousand 
pounds ? 4 

Calverley (earnestly). Or even—the one thou¬ 
sand. j 

Lady M. (laughs hysterically). One thousand 
pounds indeed ! Why it's spent, you fool! 

Lorna. Oh ! (Reels back c. as if struck.) 

(Calverley springs to support her. Lorna gasping, 
disengages herself. He stands a moment, his head 
hanging, she staring at him with wild eyes. He goes 
up. She intercepts him.) 

Where are you going? (Pause.) To Sir Bertram ? 



16 


WHAT CHARITY COVERS. 


Calverley. I must. 

Lorna. You are going to tell him that our 
accounts are imperfect ? 

Calverley. It has nothing to do with you, Miss 
Thornicroft. 

Lorna. Oh, but it has. I helped my mother. 

Lady M. (sitting R., dries her eyes, murmurs). The 
dear girl ! Of coarse she did. 

Calverley (impatiently). Nonsense. 

Lorna. Sir Bertram can’t accuse the one without 
the other. 

Lady M. (reassured as Calverley looks uneasy). 
I should like to see the man dare to accuse either of us. 

Lorna. You are going to let two unlucky women 
suffer for a system which is wrong, a system which 
puts all the work on people who have been allowed to 
pay themselves, which throws temptation in the way 
of people who can’t resist it, who, it seems to me, are 
not even expected to resist it. Mr. Calverley, is it 
fair ? 

Calverley (agitated). It is Sir Bertram’s business, 
not mine. 

Lorna (passionately). But you are going to tell 
him ? 

Lady M. Why, what’s he got to tell ? Only that 
T can’t remember how the money’s gone. 

Calverley (only heeding Lorna, gently). What 
can I do ? 

Lorna (turns away l., breaks down). I don’t know. 

Calverley (springs after her). Miss Lorna! 
(Checks himself, clenching his hands.) 

Lady M. (watching him, moans). My poor child’s 
iuture ruined. (Goes to window R.) 

Lorna. Mamma, don’t. 

Calverley (struggling with himself). I’ll—I’ll 
speak to him. I’ll—I’ll see what I can do. 

Lady M. Oh, thank you, thank you. 

Calverley. I’m afraid it will be a difficult busi¬ 
ness. 


WHAT CHARITY - COVERS. 


17 


Lady M. Oh ! ( Turns from window with scared 

face.) There’s Sir Bertram’s car at the door. 

Lorna (indespair) . It’s too late. 

Calverley. No, no, I’ll meet him. I’ll— (Looks 
earnestly at Lorna.) I’ll do my best. 

(Exit Calverley at back hastily.) 

', ) L1 i I ; 

(Outer door heard to slam. Lorna, as if dazed, sinks 
into chair down L. in dumb despair,) 

. Lady M. (recovering herself, looks in the glass, 
adjusts her hair and dress, takes out powder puff and 
applies it to her face). What a ridiculous fuss the 
creature made ! And all about nothing. I’m sure 
I’ll never help a cripple again. 

(Lorna shivers.) 

Why don’t you speak ? What’s the matter with 
you ? 

Lorna (looks at her almost stealthily, with horror in 
her face). Matter ! Oh, mamma ! 

Lady M. (groans). More heroics! 

Lorna. What must he think of me ? 

Lady M. What on earth does it matter what he 
thinks ? You did just the right thing, taking it upon 
yourself. Even Sir Bertram wouldn’t prosecute you. 

Lorna (shuddering). What I did was disgraceful, 
humiliating. I played upon the feeling I know he has 
for me. It was mean, it was unfair. 

Lady M. Anything’s fair when one has to get out 
of a scrape. 

Lorna. And how are we ever going to repay the 
money ? 

Lady M. Of course we can’t repay it, and I don’t 
mean to try. I can’t count [twopences, like Sir 
Bertram, whose father was a grocer. 

Lorna. We’ve robbed the cripples of two 
thousand pounds. 

Lady M. (with weary impatience , recovering her 


18 


WHAT CHARITY COVERS. 


playfulness). How can we have robbed them of what 
they hadn’t got ? 

Lqrna. But they ought to have had it. 

Lady M. They were very pleased with what they 
did get, and after all, they’re comfortable for life, 
and we’re not. A - 1 m ■ , i 

Lorna. Mamma, it’s horrible to hear you talk 
like that. To think that the bills were paid with 
money which wasn’t ours ! 

Lady M. (sits, closes her eyes). Well, they are 
paid, that’s the great thing. 

Lorna. And that Mr. Calverley looks upon us as 
thieves ! 

Lady M. (with languid haughtiness). I must beg 
you not to apply such a word to me. 

Lorna. But, mamma- 

Lady M. (laying down the law). The man who takes 
a cabbage from a stall without paying for it is a thief. 
But if you once call a man a thief for taking the high¬ 
est commission he can get, where are you to stop ? 

Lorna. But secret commissions are illegal. 

Lady M. As long as they’re secret, it doesn’t 
matter what else they are. 

Lorna (desperately). Mamma, if you feel like 
that, I suppose it’s right—for you. But I can’t feel 
it so. And I can’t go on living as if I did. 

Lady M. What do you mean ? 

Lorna. That I’m going to do typewriting, dress¬ 
making, anything to take myself off your hands. 

Lady M. You ungrateful girl ! When all my 
struggles have been on your account. And now you 
a.re going to disgrace yourself, and disgrace me—by 
earning your own living. 

Lorna. Yes. 

Lady M. You are absolutely without conscience. 

Lorna. We haven’t the same sort of conscience, 
that’s all. 

Lady M. (with a huge sigh). Sneering at your own 
mother ! 


WHAT CHARITY COVERS. 


19 


Lorn a. No, mamma, I’m not sneering. I’m too 
miserable to do anything so spirited. 

(Bell heard.) 

Lady M. I wonder if it’s that awful man again ! 
If it is, you must see him. I simply decline to expose 
myself again to his impertinence. 

Lorna. Mamma, he was not impertinent. He 
was everything that is courteous and kindl 

Lady M. I could see he had a prejudice against me. 

Lorna. I don’t think so. 

Lady M. (goes to window). Perhaps it’s Sir Ber¬ 
tram. His car is still there. 

Lorna. If so, you will have to see him. 

Lady M. (haughtily). If I do, I shall tell him what 
I think of him in plain terms. 

(Voices outside.) 

(Exit Lady Mary, frightened, very quickly up r.) 

(Enter at hack Fenner.) 

Fenner. ■ Mr. White. 

(Enter at hack Calverley, agitated.) 

(Exit Fenner.) 

Calverley. 1 hope you will forgive this second 
intrusion. Miss Lorna. 

Lorna (humble and agitated). It’s no intrusion. 
You have been interceding for us, I know. 

Calverley (with decision). Not for you. You 
have nothing to do with this business. 

Lorna. I can’t feel that. 

Calverley. Except that you would be made to 
suffer for somebody else’s fault. 

Lorna. Would be ! (Eagerly.) 

Calverley. Yes. It’s all right, I think. 

Lorna. And it’s your doing, I know. Tell rne, 


20 


WHAT CHARITY COVERS. 


do tell me, how you managed it. (She points to a seat 
c. and sits R.) 

Calverley (sits). It was all arranged more easily 
than I had expected. Sir Bertram had no wish to be 
harsh. 

Lorn a (bewildered) . But he. was coming here him¬ 
self ! That looked bad, I thought. 

Calverley. I met him at the door, and, as you 
see, it didn’t take long to prove to him that it would 
be better not to—not to- 

Lorn a (wondering). What did you say to him ? 

Calverley (hesitates). I hadn’t time to say very 
much. 

Lorna. But what did you say—in the time ? 

Calverley. I can’t remember the exact words. 
But he was satisfied. | 

Lorna. It’s very odd. (She sits blankly.) The 
trouble seems to have come—and gone—like a dream. 

Calverley (rising, rather constrained). I hope all 
your troubles may come and go as easily, Miss Lorna. 

Lorna (humble and grateful). I don’t know how 
to thank you. (Troubled.) Somehow—I feel—that 
you have not told me everything, that you must have 
had a harder task with Sir Bertram than you admit. 

Calverley (earnestly). You are wrong. It was 
settled in a few minutes, as you see. 

Lorna (looking at him steadily). You say you 
didn’t mention my name ? 

Calverley. I did not, upon my word. 

Lorna (with increasing suspicion). You only had 
to say a few words, and he was satisfied ? 

Calverley. He grumbled a little, but decided 
to let the matter drop. 

Lorna (looks at him askance, becomes suddenly 
frightened and shy). Oh, yes—I—I—I— see. 

Calverley (after a pause, looking at his hat). 
I suppose I shan’t have the pleasure of seeing you 
again till the Autumn. You will be going away to 
Ostend, I understand ? * 



WHAT CHARITY COVERS. 21 

Lorna ( turns away). I was going, but I am not 
going now. 

Calverley [interested). Not going ? Lady Mary 
told me, a fortnight ago, that I should meet you there. 

Lorna. I’ve changed my mind. 

Calverley ( looks at her . moves away, then ack. 
In earnest‘whisper). May I know whv ? 

Lorna [in a voice full of suppressed feeling). I don’t 
feel justified in letting my mother incur—difficulties 
for my sake. 

Calverley (sharply). It’s not for your sake. 

Lorna. So I’m going to earn my own living. 

Calverley (eagerly). How ? 

Lorna. I don’t know yet. As a last resource there 
is always the tea-shop. 

Calverley (in better spirits). Yes, yes. 

Lorna. So when you come back from Ostend, per¬ 
haps I shall have the pleasure of serving you with tea 
and bread and butter. No gratuities. 

Calverley. I’m not going to Ostend either. 

Lorna ( after a pause, sharply). Why not ? 

Calverley. Can’t afford it. 

Lorna. But a fortnight ago you said you were 
going. 

Calverley. Many things may happen in a fort¬ 
night. 

Lorna ( apprehensive , imperatively). What sort of 
things ? 

Calverley ( looks down). Oh. one may lose money. 

Lorna. How ? 

Calverley. On horses, or at cards, or on the 
Stock Exchange. - 

Lorna. Do you mean that you have lost in any of 
those ways ? 

Calverley. Why-( Hesitating )—no, I— 

I don’t know that I have. 

Lorna (pressing). But you have lost it suddenly ? 

Calverley. Yes. 

Lorna. Very suddenly ? 


22 


WHAT CHARITY COVERS. 


Calverley. The fact is, I’ve been rather extrava¬ 
gant. 

Lorna. Extravagant ! Extravagant ! ( A wild 

look comes into her face, she comes down quickly L.) 
Oh ! ! (Turns sharply.) You’d never be so mad, so 
foolish ! Oh, no, . no ! (covers her face with her 
hands, throws herself in chair.) 

Calverley (comes slowly down to her—in a voice 
full of tenderness). What’s the matter ? 

Lorna (rises, crosses r. in violent agitation). Oh, no 

no, I won’t allow it, I won’t, I won’t ! Mamma- 

(Runs up r.) 

Calverley (puts down his hat, seizes hey hand). 
What won’t you allow ? Come now ? 

Lorna (passionately). I won’t allow you to waste 
your own money on saving us. Even if you were very 
rich, I couldn’t allow it. 

(He tries to interrupt.) 

No. Don’t deny it. I know that’s what you meant 
to do. 

Calverley. How did you guess ? I didn’t mean 
you to. 

Lorna. Nothing but the money would have 
satisfied Sir Bertram, I know. 

Calverley. Well, Sir Bertram must be satisfied, 

don’t vou realize that ? 

«/ 

Lorna. But not with your money ? 

Calverley. Why not, if 1 give it willingly ? 

Lorna. But you don’t. It was wheedled out of 
you, wrung out of you, by the pleadings, the tears, of 
two selfish women, who thought of nothing but how 
to get themselves out of the scrape they found 
themselves in. 

Calverley. No, no ! 

Lorna. I’m ashamed of my own share in persuad¬ 
ing you. But how could T guess how generous you 
were ? How could I imagine you were ready to 


WHAT CHARITY COVERS. 


23 


sacrifice hundreds of pounds just because you saw a 
woman crv ? 

Calverley (in a stifled voice). I’m not. I could 
see a dozen women cry without turning a hair. If I 
couldn’t stand the sight of one crying, it was because 
—because- 

Lorna [in a whisper). Because what ? 

Calverley. Because it was you. [Pause.) Now 
you understand. [Goes up.) 

Lorna [looking down, in a low voice.) Mr. Calverley. 

Calverley [comes down). Yes. 

Lorna (slowly). I—don’t —think—that’s— a— 

reason. 

Calverley. Well, it’s reason enough for me, 
anyhow. 

Lorna (in a low voice, meekly). I can’t let you do 
it, you know. 

Calverley. Well, if I choose to, it’s my look-out, 
isn’t it ? 

Lorna (stijl looking down). No. 

Calverley (stands straight before her). Do you for¬ 
bid me to do it ? 

(She looks up shyly.) 

If it will give me very great pleasure ? (He puts his 
hand on her shoulder .) Do you forbid me—Lorna ? 

Lorna (puts up her hand to his, and bends her head). 
No. 

Calverley (takes her face in his hand). Do you 
forbid me ? 

Lorna. No. 

Calverley (kisses her, takes her left hand,'plays]with 
the third finger). Do you forbid me ? 

Lorna. No. 

Calverley. It will be better than the tea-shop. 

(Lady Mary heard singing outside). 

Lorna (starts back). Oh, won’t it be awkward to 
meet mamma, and explain ? 



24 


WHAT CHARITY COVERS. 


Calverley. Awkward! Not for her. 

[Enter Lady Mary up r.) 

Lady M. Ah, Mr. White, back again, I see. 
(Holds out her hand graciously.) I knew you’d see it 
was all right when you had time to look into it. 

Lorn a. Oh, mamma—but- 

Lady M. Don’t interrupt me, my dear. (To 
Calverley.) A nice exposure it would have been 
for everybody, with half a dozen duchesses on the 
committee ! 

Calverley. Yes. 

Lorna. Mamma, you don’t understand-- 

Lady M. (quickly). I think I do. (To Calver¬ 
ley.) You wish to marry my Lorna ? 

Calverley. Yes. I- 

Lady M. ( interrupts graciously). And you’re 
afraid I won’t let you, after the scene you made here 
this morning. 

Lorna (indignant). Oh, 1 can’t let you- 

Calverley. Hush ! 

Lady M. Well, I’m more forgiving than you 
think. I won’t ask for any apologies, in fact, I 
won’t listen to any. I consent to let the past be for¬ 
gotten, and (takes their hands and laughingly joins 
them ) to say in the orthodox way (with humorous 
affectation) ber-less yeou, my 'Children 1 


Curtain. 







DRRWXVG ROOM 




Omj acpi lu Hie large sire, the Pack scene Is 13 feet long and 9 teei high .mo o- 
tends with the Wings and Borders to 20 feet long and 11J feet high In the.centre 
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tastefully ornamented and beautifully coloured, forming a most elegant picture. 
The above is a representation of a box scene consisting of 38 sheets of paper, 
the extra sheets being used for the doors each side. 

£ s. d. 

Back Scene, Border, and 1 Set of Wings, unmounted ... ..200 

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Back Scene, Border, with 2 Sets of Wings as above to form Box 

Scene, unmounted ... *. • • • • • • • ••• 2 10 0 

Ditto, mounted ft-» ««« ••• • • ••• *♦* ••• * •»« 6 & 0 


COTTAGE 


>re is a door i a.ui g •v»iofr 
centre is a window. (>u th* 
re. The above is a repre-en 
Box Scene), but a Box Seen* 
». Prices and sire same as 


One copy del. to Cat. Div. 











































































































































































































































FRENCH’S ACTING 

VOLUME 150 
£230 The Dentist 
2237 Taken for Granted 
1238 Just as Well 

2239 Hogmany 

2240 Pansy 

2241 A Doctor’s Engage* 

ments 

2242 A Duet 

2213 My Milliner’s Bill, Is. 
2244 My Aunt from Cali¬ 
fornia 

2*245 His Life for Hers 
2246 The Meeting 
2*247 The Umbrella 
Duologue 

2248 The Late Lamented 
2^49 Woman Triumphant 

2260 Angelina’s Lover 

VOLUME 161 

2261 Chrysanthemums 

2252 My First Client 

2253 Punctured 
2*264 Old Pals 

2*2. 5 Honeymoon Tragedy 
2*250 Commission 
2267 Hal, the Highwayman 
2258 Dinner for Two 

2269 Ninth Waltz 
2*200 Human Sport 
2261 Collaborators 
2202 Mere Man 
2*203 Packing Up 

2264 Paying Guest 

2265 'Enery Brown 

VOLUME 162 
2*266 The Jilt 

2207 'Op-o’-Me-Thumb 

2208 A Marriage Has Been 

Arranged 

2209 Carrots 

2270 Conversion of Nat 

Sturge 


AN AMERICAN CITIZEN 
BILLY'S LITTLE LOVE 
AFFAIR 

BRACK OF PARTRIDOES 
BRIXTON BURGLARY 
CAPTAIN SWIFT 
CASSILiS ENGAGEMENT 
CHARITY THAT BEGAN 
AT HOME 
COUNTRY MOUSE 
DR. WAKE’S PATIENT 
FACING THE MUSIC 
FASCINATING MR. VAN- 
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IDLER. 

TM PORTA NCE OF BEING 
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2271 Clerical Error 

2272 Aubrey Closes the Door 

2273 Workbox 

2274 Two on a ’Bus 

2275 Bridget’s Blunders 

2276 That Brute Simmons 

2277 Well Matched 

2278 Maker of Men 

2279 Gutter of Tim® 

2280 Game of Chess 

VOLUME 153 

2281 Mr. Steinmann’s 

Corner 

2282 Ella’s Apology 

2283 Colour Sergeant 

2284 Helpless Couple 

2285 First Aid to the 

Wounded 

2286 Correct Thing 

2287 Their New Paying 

Guest 

2288 Domestic Entangle¬ 

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2289 Salt of Life 

2290 Time is Money 

2291 Wally and the Widow 

2292 Deceitful Miss Smiths 

2293 Holly Tree Inn 

2294 Up-to-date • 

2295 Bit of J)ld Chelsea 

VOLUME 154 

2296 Wrong Side of the 

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2297 The Open Door 

2298 Prima Donna (Pem- 

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2299 Lights Out (Pemberton) 

2300 Mirror of Time 

2301 Three Blind Mice 

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2302 Privy Council 

2303 Snowed up with a 

Duchess 


2304 Acacia Cottage 

2305 Fabricato 

2306 Compromising Martha 

2307 Rest Cure 

2308 Misses Primrose's De¬ 

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2309 Ejection of Aunt 

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2310 Uncle Dick’s Darling 

VOLUME 155 

2311 That Horrid Major 

2312 Bardwell v. Pickwick 

2313 House of Nightingales 

2314 Turtle Doves [der 

2315 Superior Miss Pellen- 

2316 His Good Genius 

2317 Martha Plays the Fairy 

2318 Dumb Cake 

2319 Proposing by Proxy 

2320 Phamix 

2321 Boatswain’s Mate 

2322 Final Rehearsal 

2323 Two Aunts at a Time 

2324 Nelson Touoh 

2325 Convict on the Hearth 

VOLUME 156 

2326 Grey Parrot 

2327 Ghost of Jerry Bundler 

2328 Bishop’s Candlesticks 

2329 Peacemaker 

2330 Changeling 

2331 Wire Entanglement 

2332 Pride of Regiment 
233 5 “ 1588 ” 

2334 Man on the Kerb 

2335 O’Dowd 

2336 Impertinence of the 

Creature 

2337 Dramatist at Home 

2338 Martha the Soot hsayer 

2339 Old Martha Is. 

2340 AllThrough Martha Is. 


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